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Movie Starring Holly Hunter Films at Mississippi College


MC Modern Languages Department chair Beth Stapleton pictured at her Jennings Hall office.

Professor Beth Stapleton remains a huge fan of award-winning actress Holly Hunter.

But Beth never dreamed she would appear as an extra in a new movie, “Strange Weather,” starring Hunter. What makes it more special is that scenes were shot at Mississippi College, including her Jennings Hall office.

Beth and Holly are Georgia natives and that’s among the reasons the MC Modern Languages Department chair closely followed Hunter’s career.

“I have been a super fan since I started watching her in films and television. I especially loved the TNT drama (“Saving Grace”), where she is a tough, quick-tempered cop,” Stapleton says. “I like the rebel nature of that character and can relate to it in many ways.”

Holly Hunter didn’t disappoint during her late October visit to the Clinton campus. Crews stayed busy from early morning through late evening hours on October 28 before traveling to Vicksburg, Canton and New Orleans to capture more footage.

“She was very generous and giving of her time. She was all business for most of the day. But I was able to chat with her at the end of the day when she finished shooting.”

A native of Conyers, Ga., Hunter is a 1980 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Her list of movie credits include major roles in “Broadcast News,” and “Miss Firecracker,” filmed in Yazoo City. Hunter received an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 when she played the role of a mute bride in “The Piano.”

Hunter’s newest feature film tells the story of a woman struggling to come to terms with her son’s suicide. To make things mesh with the movie, Stapleton’s office was transformed into an anthropology office. It was newly decorated with old campus photographs on the walls.

Jennings Hall was rated among the South’s finest college dormitories when it opened in 1907. Today, the beautiful brick building contains faculty offices and classrooms plus a courtyard.

It was the perfect choice when the movie director and producer scouted locations a month ago.

At one point, Beth advised Holly Hunter how to take phone calls in her office and put callers on hold.

Later, Beth and English professor Jonathan Randle made a brief appearance as extras who walked along the Quad.

“The movie experience was great” Stapleton said. “I’m not sure if they will keep that footage, but it was a fun adventure,” adds the Mississippi College graduate.

 Mississippi College students loved serving as extras.

“It was neat to see all the behind the scenes action taking place,” said MC freshman Aubrey Dean.

It wasn’t the first film for the Baton Rouge, Louisiana resident. Last summer the elementary education major played an extra in the movie “Pitch Perfect 2.”

MC students relished their parts walking on the Quad over and over as cameras rolled.

Freshman Colleen Bryan, 19, says she’s interested in film and broadcasting productions. But the Gulf Shores, Alabama resident insists she stay on track to become a teacher.

Jonathan Randle also won’t give up his day job as dean of the MC School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Being around film crews for a few hours proved quite interesting for the MC graduate. “It gave us all a terrific glimpse into the amount of work and waiting – an awful lot of waiting – that goes into film-making these day,” Randle says. “I didn’t get bitten by the Tinseltown bug. To see the number of moving pieces, involved, though, was intriguing.”

Mississippi College is becoming a popular movie spot. “A Gift Horse” was filmed at Providence Hill Farm during the summer of 2014. It tells the story of a young girl who’s heartbroken after her mother dies. She turns to her horse for comfort. Hale Bopp, one of MC’s equestrian team horses, is featured.

Meanwhile, movies like “The Help,” and “A Time to Kill” were big box office hits filmed in Mississippi.